It's been days and Johanna had thought of something. Maybe facing her fears would make those bad dreams away. She felt bad for Connor for having sleepless nights. She doesn't want him to get sick. There are still a few more months before her labor and both of them will be sleepless. She had this thought that she might die early too. She doesn't want her baby to live alone without a mother or father. So, she chose to have Connor take care of their baby since he already loves them so much.
She opened the drawer and took the box that Violet gave to her. She took out the keys and the address. Then, she peeked at her fiancé from the door and he's sleeping and snoring a little. She quickly changed her clothes into jeans, shirt and she used his bulletproof jacket. She took the key with her and used the secret door to their joined room.
She used one of his motorbikes and drove off to the 50 miles location where the safe was located. She showed the key to the security guard and she was escorted to the container. The man left her there as she unlocked it. She gently opened the door and checked the sides if there's a switch. She found one and turned it on. Then, the string lights surprised her. But it's not just the string lights. Her heart melted seeing the biggest teddy bear that she ever saw. It was wearing a t-shirt with a heart. 'I love you, baby sis'
She nearly broke down but she gathered herself. She eyed the mansion-like dollhouse and she peeked on it and turned it on to see the detailed equipment inside. It's not just that but there are many toys and there's a dress for her. There's also a pink gown that he probably bought for her eighteenth birthday. Without knowing, she's slowly tearing. Her brother celebrates her birthday every year. She thought that she was already forgetting and she forgot about him. She felt guilty for forgetting one of the most important people in her life. She reached her chest as she started sobbing. She approached the big brown teddy bear and hugged it tightly.
"Oh, Victor…" She started sobbing hard. "I'm sorry, brother. I'm sorry…" Her chest started feeling tight but she kept crying. She stopped and turned quickly to find Connor standing at the door.
"You finally came." He approached her and hugged her. "You finally came, Hannah Grace." He whispered and kissed her forehead.
Her hand clenched his coat while she's crying. She had never cried like this for so long. It felt like she couldn't breathe.
"Babe, calm down." He gently hushed her and rubbed her back. He pulled out a handkerchief and wiped her tears and nose. She breathed in and out to calm herself. "I'm going to take it all to our house, okay?"
"Yes, please." She nodded at him and hugged him. "I miss him." She mumbled. "I missed him so much that I have to forget about him."
"I know what you feel and it's extreme. But love, you have to calm down." He reached her tummy. "Remember our baby. Okay?"
She sniffled and nodded at him.
Then in a few minutes, Leon, Bull, and Viper came with a big truck to carry it all inside. She watched them put it on the truck and she somehow felt oddly relieved. She wanted to see each of them and maybe cry again. But she wanted to remember Victor. She wanted to remember her real brother.
Connor put the big bike at the back of the four-by-four truck that he brought with him and he made sure that she's comfortable on the passenger seats that he even has pillows on the sides. He drove safely as the truck followed them. The first thing she did was take the gigantic teddy bear. Although it was heavy, she still dragged it with her. It's also covered in plastic to avoid getting dirty.
"Babe, I can do that," Connor told her. He never let her carry heavy things. So, he put down the other box and approached her. He took the gigantic teddy bear by himself and took it upstairs to her bedroom. "Take a warm bath, love. I'll set it up in the other room." He said as he reached her cheeks and kissed her lips. "I'll be with you, okay?"
"Thank you, Connor." She nodded at him as she bent down to reach the hunter. She hugged the puppy and kissed it.
"Anything for you, baby."
Johanna waited for them to unload it and put it in the room near hers. The boys waved at him as they went downstairs while she went to the room to start unpacking each of the boxes with a letter written on it. She read each of them. Starting from her eighth birthday.
August 23, 2011
My dearest Hannah Grace,
They said that I might have a sister complex. But no one knows how adorable you are. I love you from Pluto back to the Earth and the only thing I ever wanted was your safety. Please be safe, my little sister. This big brother of yours will find you soon. Happy eighth birthday. I love you, always.
-Victor
December 25, 2011
My Dearest Grace,
There's no day that I haven't thought of searching for you. My heart aches each day thinking how much you suffer. My dearest sister, please hold on tight. There will be a day that you will no longer have to suffer anymore and you'll be happy and content.
I'm sorry for writing these heartaches. I'm sorry that I am a useless brother. But I promised to be with you soon.
Merry Christmas, and I love from Pluto back to earth.
-Big Brother
She reached the music box as a ballerina started twirling around. Now she remembered. She remembered that she wanted to try on wearing a tutu dress that ballerinas wore. It happened because of Keira. If only she could write back to him. But she never received any letter from him.
<><><><>
Charles Facility
The sound of the beeping systems is making him annoyed. But he controlled his head from it. They can still detect it. Currently, Victor is stretching his hands using the handgrip. While doing that, they are also testing the new leg that they gave to him. It's now even to his other leg and it can kick so well and twist so well. After years of having it connected to his nerves, he had a new foot.
"Hannah Grace," The man said and he tried hard not to react. But somehow it triggers something in him. It's been a while since he last heard that name. Who is Hannah Grace? Somehow, there's a gap in his memory. "Do you know her?" The doctor asked and he shook his head.
"Who is Hannah Grace?" He asked back.
"She's someone that we have to find. She's a special one."
Victor nodded his head.
"But first, after you recover, we can start hunting this girl." He showed a photo of Tracey De Novo as he stared at it for a long. "Our top A and B assassins couldn't kill her because of anonymous people. Can you do that?"
"What should I do?" He asked as he stared at Tracey De Novo's photo.
"You only have to kill her brutally." The man grinned. "Can you do that?"
"Yes," Victor said and kept staring at the photo.
Something, a memory, wanted to flash inside his head but somehow, there's this thing that was stopping him. But the only thing he has in mind is to take care of it. He had to kill that girl so he could go back to his beloved Violet and baby.
That day after a strange man came to tell him about them, it triggered him to cooperate rather than being a real robot. He had his stamina, his agility and his sharp mind improved for that. He's aware that they are controlling him but then he lets them.
"It's time for your break. You have to sleep ten hours every night now."
He put the handgrip back on the basket and they escorted him to his new room with only one camera. It looked homier now than before. He takes a bath by himself without making his prosthetic leg wet by covering it with a silicon towel. He continues with his nightly hygiene. He put his boxer shorts on and lay down. He carefully pulled the duet and closed his eyes. He's now trying to remember Violet in his head.
"Victor," Her sweet alluring voice had something stirred up in his body. Then, she giggled and caressed his chest. "Let's get married quick. I don't want any grand wedding."
"Sure, my love. Let's set it up, maybe when we get to the city."
"I can't wait." Violet's kiss made him warm even though it was just a dream.
"Oni-sama." An adorable voice of a girl called. "Big bro, when are you coming back home?"